ORONO, Maine, Oct. 13 -- University of Maine issued the following news release:
Robert A. Ballingall, University of Maine
A common complaint today laments the "shamelessness" of politicians. Until recently, the argument goes, more elected officials had a sense of shame to hold them back from ugly words and deeds, at least in public. Many in the current crop, however, seem to have no fear of disgrace; they revel in contempt for the niceties of old - unwritten rules against cursing, slander or lying, but also written rules against abuse of power.
The problem isn't so much a question of bad manners or even of corruption. It's really about leadership.
I study the history of political thought and work on the psychology of lawfulness: the ch...